Chatting with Tori Scott

AM: Reading Four Houses, I wondered if the deconstructed narration inspired you to write the story first or did you think of your plot the ‘traditional’ way and then explored with structure?

Tori Scott: I started by thinking of the plot the traditional way. I was actually listening to a trippy song and had this vision of a girl standing before two houses. The more I thought on it, the more I liked the idea of the girl being surrounded by houses, and those houses being choices. Later that night, I was lying in bed thinking about the story. Then it just hit me, and the idea for the more unique structure was born.

AM: The broken narrative works so well with the creepy atmosphere. I’m ALWAYS listening to music when I write–I cannot function without it, and depending on the scene/story I’m writing, I play different genres/bands. A fight scene develops so well with Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly, and when I need a sad mood, The Cure, Bauhaus and Chameleons UK provide such rich textures…

I need to know: What was the song–and more importantly, are you often inspired by music? If so, which bands, and do they influence what you write?

Tori Scott: I actually have no idea what the name of the song was. I heard it at a restaurant and spent three days trying to find it online before giving up. Like many writers, music is definitely a source of inspiration. I use it more for particular scenes than I do for entire books or ideas. For example: I listened to Limp Bizkit’s Break Stuff for a recent fight scene. Overall, I like harder rock: System of a Down, Nirvana, Linkin Park. Stuff that gets your blood pumping and the creativity flowing.

AM: Speaking of creativity, you and I share a love of the dark — how did you come about the horror genre?

Tori Scot: Growing up, I watched my mom read everything horror. She is a huge Stephen King fan. On top of that, both she and my sister love horror movies–the bloodier, the better. I also have a love for dark elements, but my work isn’t quite as extreme. I’d say my writing has a touch of dark, whereas a writer like Stephen King is immersed in it.

AM: So should we expect your debut novel to give us chills like your short story Four Houses does?

Tori Scott:My debut, should it get picked up (my agent plans to submit it in September), is more of a dark comedy. Meaning it’s meant to make you laugh, but you know you shouldn’t. It also has romantic elements weaved in. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

Tori is represented by Laurie McLean of Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency and you can follow her on twitter and her website.

What a great interview! And that short story sounds luscious! I loved hearing how Tori came up w/the idea. I, too, like to set the tone for my writing through music. Thanks for the inside track into Tori’s rising career, Anne!

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